Alternative Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease

There are numerous clinical trials underway examining a multitude of interventions (both conventional and alternative), including—but not limited to—cognitive training, antioxidants (e.g., Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene), omega-3 fatty acids, DHA supplementation, hormones, type-2 diabetes treatments (insulin seems to play a role in AD), exercise, and cardiovascular treatments, among others. Currently, however, there are no alternative treatments that have been conclusively proven to be effective in preventing, treating, reversing, or curing dementia.

What about Ginkgo biloba? 

When people think about alternative treatments for dementia—particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD)—invariably the one that comes to mind is the herb (which is actually a leaf from a tree) called Ginkgo biloba. Numerous studies of ginkgo have been conducted for a variety of conditions. Among the most widely researched are dementia, memory impairment, intermittent claudication (limping), and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

For example, the largest clinical trial ever to evaluate ginkgo's effect on the occurrence of dementia, called the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study, was conducted at four clinical sites during the course of eight years. The GEM trial involved more than 3,000 volunteers age 75 and over who took ginkgo on a daily basis.

To the researchers’ (and everyone’s) dismay, taking ginkgo was found to be ineffective in lowering the overall incidence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in the elderly; and further analysis of the same data also found ginkgo to be ineffective in slowing cognitive decline, lowering blood pressure, or reducing the incidence of hypertension.

An additional trial sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of more than 200 healthy adults over age 60 found that ginkgo taken for six weeks did not improve memory.

Ginkgo Caution

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has published the following precautions concerning taking ginkgo:

• Side effects of ginkgo may include headache, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, dizziness, or allergic skin reactions. More severe allergic reactions have occasionally been reported.
• There are some data to suggest that ginkgo can increase bleeding risk, so people who take anticoagulant drugs, have bleeding disorders, or have scheduled surgery or dental procedures should use caution and talk to a healthcare provider if using ginkgo.
• Fresh (raw) ginkgo seeds contain large amounts of a chemical called ginkgotoxin, which can cause serious adverse reactions—even seizures and death. Roasted seeds can also be dangerous. Products made from standardized ginkgo leaf extracts contain little ginkgotoxin and appear to be safe when used orally and appropriately. 

Read Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention for information on how various strategies and lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise, and social engagement may be helpful in reducing the risk for developing dementia.